Chairwoman Joyce Kellish and members Norman Hicks and Kathy Koritko of Durham and William Currlin, Daniel Shoemaker and Robert Dlugolenski of Middlefield affirmed their support for the magnet school by voting to reject the motion. Member Patricia Collins-Sayward of Middlefield was absent.

Region 13 would be allowed to send up to 40 students to the 800- student magnet school that would be located in Meriden. It would also accept students from Middletown and Madison. In the initial vote to participate in the magnet school in June 1996, the board included a provision that it would decide by June 30 of each year whether to give a required one- year notice of withdrawal from the school.

Montgomery, a consistent opponent of Region 13 participation in the school, cited continued problems finding a suitable site in Meriden and alleged political interference in the school's building committee as reasons to withdraw from the project.

``It's not very encouraging. I just don't know what to make of the political situation over there,'' he said.

``I'm not convinced the political situation is a reason for us to pull out of the magnet school,'' replied Hicks.

Koritko said the board was ``voting on philosophy'' by continuing participation in the school.

Superintendent of Schools William Breck ``strongly encouraged'' the board to stay with the magnet school project, which is entirely funded by the state. He said curriculum planning for the school is proceeding with few problems.

Breck said he had ``no predictions'' on when construction of the school would begin. A second site, on North Broad Street in Meriden, is currently undergoing environmental review by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

``Once the building commences, that is something that is just going to proceed,'' Breck said.

In other business, the board decided by consensus that it does not want to provide permanent office space for Durham's new resident state trooper at Coginchaug Regional High School or any other district school in the town.

Durham First Selectman Raymond Kalinowski said he was simply exploring the option with the board. Kalinowski said he has two other options for providing a suitable office for the trooper, who will begin working in Durham on July 1.